Modifying a '95 2wd

[Murk]

I have my 1995 4d 2wd completely stock. I don't have much of an idea of what I can really do to it. I want to improve performance and looks, but I most likely won't be taking it offroad, though I would like to if that is possible. I think I'm going to get the Flowmaster II 50 series exhaust, and I found some headers for a '95, but I really just can't find many parts for this model...or people that drive them at that. I can't find a lift kit for it at all, and I'm wondering if there is one out there even. All in all, what I would really like to do to it would be raise it, get some bigger tires, grill gaurd, etc. and improve performance/horsepower as much as possible. To anyone who can help me out with all of it, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks in advance.

 

[jimbo74]

welcome to the site... there is tons of info on it... you can do front lift spindels, a torsion twist, body lift, etc... tons of stuff..... do a search in the suspension forum for the stuff i mentioned.....

 

[Murk]

Good lord that was a fast reply. Many thanks for the welcome and the help. I'll look.

 

[bmxking5]

Welcome to the site. Like Jim said, do a search in the suspensions forum. The cheapest thing to do probably is a torsion twist, shackles, and a 3" body lift. That'll be about 5" of lift. There are other ways to lift it more, but they are more costly. You'll have that thing on 33s in no time.

 

[Murk]

That sounds great. I just read a very long thread about someone doing almost the same thing I am. I think I read that doing that won't run me too much and I can do all or most of it myself? Where would you suggest I buy the parts from?

 

[IAmTodd]

Intake and an Exhaust will be a good start for you performance wise. You can lift/lower cheaply. I would however recomend going for the prerunner look

 

[Murk]

Well honestly, I drive this thing more like a sports car than an SUV, probably because I love going fast, weaving traffic and racing, but I don't have/can't get a sports car any time soon. But then when I see the opportunities, I love using it as it was built. I wish I could take it mudding. I've never been, but it looks like so much fun. The closest I ever get is huge puddles around town, but I still enjoy the water/mud flying up around the car.

As far as the exhaust/intake. I know the exhaust is easy to install, but what about the intake? I don't know as much about that.

 

[jimbo74]

be careful driving a lifted truck at high speeds......

my toyota in my pic <<<<< is a 4x2 and lifted... it shares the same design as the 95+ explroer suspension wise... i drive hard and fast, but i realize that it is not a sports car, and its cog is higher than a car......

 

[IAmTodd]

On that bombshell, lower an inch, get the leaf packs from a 4-door explorer, EE sway bars, and some 17" or so wheels/tires, exhaust, intake, tuner, call it a day!

What color is it?

 

[Murk]

right now it's tan, inside and out. But there's a scratch along the whole passenger side, looks like a keying but much worse, from when i hit a mailbox one night and there are other scratches, so ill be painting it. Maybe black or white, something that matches the tan interior.

 

[boominXplorer]

check out my thread on all the talk on lifting a 2wd http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=134021

 

[Murk]

Ok, so if I do a TT, shackles, SOA, 3" BL, will I need to make room for 33s? I see you had 35s, but if 33s will fit without new fenders, I'd prefer that.

 

[boominXplorer]

spindles too. I havent put the bl on yet and 35's fit fine

 

[Murk]

Right, the spindles, forgot those. So I don't need to do any work to the fenders to make them fit? And how much total lift is yours going to have with all that? How much is all of this costing you, and where did you get everything?

 

[Murk]

Alrighty, well I've been continuing my research, and I'm still a little confused being new to all this. I can do the TT myself, but the FAQ on explorer4x4 says it will give me about 1.5-1.75 after settling. Where can I learn how to do a 3" TT?

I don't know where to buy any of this stuff. The 3" spindles, the SOA kit and especially the 3" BL. It's so hard to find anything for a '95.

 

[bmxking5]

You have to get a BL for a Ranger. It will bolt up perfect, but you'll need to make the brackets to raise your bumpers, which isn't that hard. IDK where to buy the spindles. For the SOA, you just need to buy leaf perches, and have them welded on to the top of the axle. You'll need to be careful, so that the pinion angle is good, etc. so I'd have a shop do it for you.

The TT lift varies with every Explorer. Some of the bolts are able to give more lift than others, you can replace the bolts with longer ones, which will in turn give you more lift, but the higher the TT, the more stress on the front end.

 

[Murk]

So with a Ranger BL, does that mean my bumpers would just be low until I make the brackets or are raising the bumpers required? I mean I would plan to do it, just curious. Also, I need a '95 Ranger BL, right? I'm not sure what the leaf perches are. Are those the same as a leaf package or AAL? As far as the TT, I think I'll just do the 2" like that FAQ tells how. I don't want to be putting much stress anywhere. Does anyone know a cheaper place to buy wheels/tires?

 

[n3m3s1s]

so you think it's cool or fun to weave in and out of traffic and street race?
you sound like one of those losers that drive fartcan civics like maniacs.
it's bad enough that they think they drive sports cars, but you have an EXPLORER.
i'm sure you think it's 'safe' and you are a 'good' driver too.
i'll bet you do it all while chatting on the celly.

[advice]lift it and slow the F*** down before you kill somebody.[/advice]

 

[Murk]

First off, when I weave traffic, I don't do it like the maniacs you're talking about. Even when I'm trying to keep up with my friend's RSX. I don't cut gap if someone is going to have to even tap their brakes. Second, I don't drive like that all the time. Third, I'm not even going to get into the "safe and good driver" part because I know I am, but I also know that driving like that isn't doing so and no, I don't talk on my phone while I'm in the car, not even with an earbud.

But anyways, I'm not here to find advice on how to drive. I'm looking for advice on how to raise my explorer, so if you want to tell me to raise it and slow down, help me learn how to so I can do it sooner.

 

[n3m3s1s]

this is the best lift for the money that i've found. it can be done for less than $200 if you have access or know someone with access to a welder. you wont have to modify your rear bumper brackets, and will gain more ground clearance than a regular body lift because you wont have your spring packs hanging below your axle.
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127121